Bird flu found in western China as US combats cattle outbreak
BEIJING — Cases of bird flu have been confirmed among wild fowl in western China, the agriculture ministry said Saturday, as concerns grow over a U.S. outbreak infecting cattle. Two counties in Qinghai province confirmed 275 cases of H5 influenza…
Extreme heat scorches parts of north India; New Delhi on high alert
NEW DELHI — Parts of northwest India sweltered under scorching temperatures Saturday, with the capital, New Delhi, under a severe weather alert as extreme temperatures struck parts of the country. India’s weather department expects heat wave conditions to persist across…
Raw milk drinkers undeterred by bird flu in US dairy cows
Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking the unpasteurized products — and an outbreak of bird flu in dairy cows. Since March 25, when the bird flu…
English fishing village told to boil water after a parasite outbreak
LONDON — A scenic fishing village in southwestern England was under instructions to boil its tap water for a third day on Friday after a parasite sickened more than 45 people in the latest example of Britain’s troubled water system….
Heat wave shatters records in Southeast Asia
Recent extreme weather in Southeast Asia has had far-reaching effects, such as school closures, drought and health advisories. While climate change is part of the problem, this year it was worsened by the cyclical weather pattern known as El Nino….
Australian researchers say enzyme could help lower lower CO2
SYDNEY — Australian scientists say they have discovered how an enzyme “hidden in nature’s blueprint” could help develop climate-resilient crops able to remove more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. An Australian study, by researchers from Australian National University and the…
Kenya conference showcases technology to help people with disabilities
In Africa, about 15% of the population faces disability challenges despite advancements in technology. Limited infrastructure and high cost of assistive tech create barriers to digital access, leading to exclusion. A conference in Nairobi this week aims to help change…
US reveals proposal to loosen restrictions on marijuana
The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday revealed a proposal to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, marking a notable change in U.S. drug policy. First announced in April, the proposal would reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug…
Webb telescope uncovers merger of two massive black holes from early universe
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA — The Webb Space Telescope has discovered the earliest known merger of black holes. These two gigantic black holes and their galaxies consolidated just 740 million years after the universe-forming Big Bang. It’s the most distant detection…
US working to get trapped American doctors out of Gaza, White House says
The Biden administration is working to get a group of U.S. doctors out of Gaza after Israel closed the Rafah border crossing, the White House said on Wednesday. The U.S. State Department said earlier this week that the government was…